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Safe Digging Month: Call before you dig for any home improvement or construction project

FOLSOM, NJ, April 2, 2018 – Once every six minutes, an underground utility line gets damaged because a digging project started without a call to 811.

In recognition of National Safe Digging Month, South Jersey Gas reminds residents to call 811 at least three full business days before digging — whether they are installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree or laying a patio. For every digging project, no matter how large or small, there is a danger of striking a utility line. Striking a single line can result in injury, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages for you and your neighbors.

The call to 811 is free and required by law.

The Common Ground Alliance started the 811 program 10 years ago to help residents and contractors understand the importance of knowing what’s below before putting a shovel into the ground. Common Ground Alliance is a national organization that promotes protecting underground utility lines and the people who work and live near them.

When calling 811, homeowners are connected to New Jersey One Call, the state center that notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the proposed digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. Homeowners can then use these marks as a guide for safe digging.

Visit www.call811.com or www.southjerseygas.com/digsafe for more information about 811 and safe digging practices.

About South Jersey Gas

South Jersey Gas, subsidiary of South Jersey Industries (NYSE:SJI), delivers safe, reliable, affordable natural gas and promotes energy efficiency to approximately 383,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, and portions of Gloucester, Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey. Visit www.southjerseygas.com to learn more about South Jersey Gas and its programs.